Media Medium
18 March 2002

DAVID LETTERMAN

Battering ram

Talk show veteran David Letterman has CBS over a barrel
which suits the aggressive and single-minded Aries just fine

What sort of gift is it that lets David Letterman play the
American networks like yo-yos? CBS have had to come up with a
$71m package to stop their sardonic and highly popular late-night
talk-show host being poached by ABC. Letterman barely conceals
his disdain for his bosses, but he appeals to a key target
audience of younger viewers, and CBS cannot afford any slippage
of advertisers to their rivals. In short, Letterman has the broadcaster
over a barrel, which suits an aggressive and single-minded Aries (12
April 1947) just fine.

Like most Aries Rams, Letterman doesn't bother with the niceties,
but the sign has a what-you-see-is-what-you-get quality that
inspires trust. However, the touch of genius that comes through
his quirky humour and his rapid-response improvisation are down
to off-beam Uranus in communicative Gemini, closely linked to his
Sun. This combination is "strong and independent... it is a very
popular configuration, and the native is readily liked and
obeyed...[his personality] appears to emanate some kind of
magnetism that attracts and holds. It is not always tactful."
(Charles Carter, Astrological Aspects).

Aries is hardly a team player, and by all accounts Letterman is
tough to work with, but it is clear from his horoscope that his
dedication to his show reflects an exacting standard that he sets
himself, rooted in self-disciplined Saturn in creative Leo,
giving him a fear of failure and mediocrity. This combination
adds an occasional spike of bitterness to his humour, as well as
a self-mocking capacity that is uncharacteristic of fiery Aries.
There is nothing light and easy about this, it is driven and
tense.

Letterman's powerful Uranus has been activated this year, so it
is no surprise that he has come to the fore at the top of his
game. It looks like he has everything just as he wants it,
although there is a troublesome glitch this June when a solar
eclipse falls within a degree of his Uranus. The sort of thing to
watch for is losing his rag, coming out with an outspoken
comment, or a skit that goes way over the top. The advice to
Letterman around this time is: keep away from the edge, you might
fall off.

But Letterman hasn't got where he is by listening to advice, and
Ariens never bother much about what other people think. In any
case, apart from this summer's hiccup there is little to suggest
that he will come off his perch in the next few years. The timing
of his horoscope favours a three-year renewal of his contract but
nothing longer. In 2005 the Sun progresses to Uranus and
Letterman really does have to think of breaking out of the track
he has carved for so many years and get himself (another) life.